Hilary Duff has delivered an exciting gift to her fans just in time for the holiday season – new music! In a revealing conversation with "Good Morning America," the multi-talented actress and singer shared that her recent focus on nostalgia sparked some surprises for her upcoming performances.
"People are going to be really surprised by what songs I play -- it's just gonna be fun," she expressed enthusiastically. "We’re planning a lot and putting in extra effort over here. I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing everyone in person and sharing both the new and the classic tracks with them."
Reflecting on the overwhelming support from her fans as she returns to the music scene, Duff remarked, "The response has been mind-blowing. I find myself at a loss for words when I think about it. I deeply appreciate it, and every time I talk about it, I get emotional."
Duff's comeback single, "Mature," which debuted on November 6, marked the most significant release of her music career to date, being her first new track in over ten years. The initial response was impressive, as the song climbed to the No. 2 spot on iTunes within its first weekend and garnered hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify.
Moreover, following the announcement of her forthcoming album titled "Luck... or Something," there was a staggering 400% increase in people searching for her previous music, as noted by Rolling Stone.
"I always recognized that 'Lizzie McGuire' had a significant impact and that some of my movies resonated with people, but it never occurred to me just how much my music meant to them," she confessed.
As part of her nostalgic journey, Duff also mentioned introducing her children to her 2002 Christmas album, "Santa Claus Lane."
"I’ve recently started playing my old Christmas album for them, and they absolutely love it – they can’t believe I was the one who made it, which is adorable," she shared. "They particularly enjoy 'Santa Claus Lane,' the title track."
She further added that her kids also have a fondness for timeless holiday tunes, including Wham!'s "Last Christmas" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." "We’re big fans of Christmas music," she said, while humorously noting that she can only start playing it in front of her husband, Matt Koma, after Thanksgiving. "But the kids and I have been jamming to it in the car on our way to school since November!"
In conjunction with this musical evolution, Duff is embracing the festive spirit with Dunkin', featuring in a new advertisement that playfully nods to both her classic and contemporary songs, all infused with a sense of nostalgia and a peek into her playful side.
The commercial depicts Duff in a kitchen, enjoying coffee and a box of festive Munchkins to help navigate the hectic holiday hosting season, as the treats come to life, offering banter about her personal naughty and nice list.
"Making every millennial's dream come true with my announcement of new music – that’s nice!" she joyfully states in the ad. "The takeaway is that being entirely naughty or completely nice is so last year."
The humorous climax of the ad features Duff tossing a salted dark chocolate Munchkin, which resembles a small lump of coal, into the air and catching it in her mouth. "I was worried it might hit me in the face, but then I thought, 'I actually caught it!' Everyone burst out laughing, and they decided to keep that moment in the final cut," she recounted. "I collaborated with a director I grew up with, and we had a blast creating this together."
"We are a Dunkin’ family through and through," Duff shared with "GMA," explaining that her family's loyalty stems from her husband's roots in the Northeast, where the coffee and donut chain originated. "I indulged in Munchkins for half the day and got to bring home donuts for my kids, which made them so excited!"
She also revealed her go-to coffee order: "I'm all about iced lattes or iced coffee with coconut syrup – I’m obsessed with that flavor year-round. We always grab it at the airport when we travel, especially since my husband and I need a large one to keep us energized while managing four kids on our trips to the East Coast."
Duff emphasized the crucial role her husband played in this new musical chapter, stating that he co-wrote and produced her latest album, supporting her vision to create something they both find appealing. "Matt has never pressured me. He dedicates his life to music daily. It wasn’t until I was pregnant with our youngest, Townes, that I felt compelled to make a record. I began to feel comfortable in my own skin and no longer worried about how others would view it."
She elaborated that her new music reflects her personal experiences, addressing everything from light-hearted moments to the more challenging phases of her life.
Describing this moment as "a victory lap," she stated, "It feels like a testament to the importance of timing and waiting until it feels right for you to act."
"I am so thrilled to connect with people at this stage in my life, and sharing this experience with them is going to be an absolute joy," she concluded.
